Light On Light Through artwork

Light On Light Through

478 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days ago - ★★★★ - 4 ratings

Paul Levinson talks about TV, movies, politics, social media, outer space, good food, science fiction; occasionally reads from his science fiction stories, plays concerts of his music, interviews other authors

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Episodes

Paul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about The Mind Revolution Experience

March 05, 2024 20:31 - 49 minutes - 68 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 376, in which I interview Dan Abella in George's Cafe in Manhattan about The Mind Revolution Experience (March 14, 7-9pm at The Producer's Club, 358 W. 44th Street, NYC) and the upcoming Philip K. Dick Film Festival (April 4-7, Musuem of the Moving Image, and other places in NYC). more about The Mind Revolution Experience here more about the PKD Film Festival here more about my novel, It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles -- that ...

Paul Levinson interviews Richard Sparks about New Rock, New Role

February 28, 2024 00:31 - 54 minutes - 74.9 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 375, in which I interview Richard Sparks about his new novel, New Rock, New Role, as well as the joys and woes, the trials and tribulations and triumphs of the writerly life. More about New Rock, New Role  

Review of True Detective 4

February 20, 2024 18:04 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 374, in which I review the fourth season of True Detective on HBO Max. Written blog post review of True Detective 4.1-4.3 Written blog post review of True Detective 4.4-4.6

Review of Reacher 2

February 13, 2024 20:58 - 7 minutes - 10.2 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 373, in which I review the second season of Reacher on Amazon Prime Video. podcast review of Reacher 1 written blog post review of Reacher 2  

Review of 'The Greatest Night in Pop'

February 06, 2024 17:01 - 9 minutes - 12.5 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 372, in which I review The Greatest Night in Pop: The Untold Story Behind 'We Are the World'. my written blog post review of The Greatest Night in Pop the "We Are the World" video 30-minute documentary made shortly after "We Are the World"

Roundtable Discussion of For All Mankind, Seasons 1-4

January 30, 2024 17:01 - 2 hours - 194 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 371, in which I join Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) and Marybeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo, Bruce Playfair, and Colleen Bement in a 2+ hour in-depth, fun discussion of For All Mankind, Seasons 1-4, on Apple TV+. my written reviews  (w/spoilers) of For All Mankind, Season 4 (link is to my review of the 10th episode, which has links to my reviews of the other 9 episodes) and earlier seasons Chuck Todd's podcast December 26, 20...

Review of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 25 Premiere

January 23, 2024 18:53 - 9 minutes - 12.6 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 370, in which I review Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 24 premiere. Read this review.    

Review of the Who Killed JFK podcast, Episodes 9-10

January 16, 2024 17:01 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 369, in which I review the Who Killed JFK? podcast, episodes 9-10. Read this review (written review of episode 10, with link to written review of episode 9) Podcast reviews of Who Killed JFK? Episodes 1-5 and 6-8   Photo by Robert H. Jackson. Originally published in the Dallas Times Herald, November 25, 1963. Winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for Photography.

Tetrads for History and Alternate History

January 09, 2024 17:01 - 16 minutes - 22.1 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 368, which I devote to consideration of tetrads for history and alternate history.   Don't know what tetrads are?  They're explained in the first few minutes of the podcast. Read about Tetrads for History and Alternate History here. Further reading on Tetrads: Laws of the Media (by Marshall McLuhan, with Preface by Paul Levinson); Tetrad Wheels of Cultural Evolution (Paul Levinson); Tetrad on the Selfie (Paul Levinson); Tetrads and Chiasmus: A ...

Review of the Who Killed JFK podcast, Episodes 6-8

January 02, 2024 18:11 - 18 minutes - 25.3 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 367, in which I review the Who Killed JFK? podcast, episodes 6-8. Read this review (written review of episode 8, with links to written reviews episodes 6 and 7) Podcast review of Who Killed JFK? Episodes 1-5 Dick Russell's The Man Who Knew Too Much

Review of Maestro

December 26, 2023 17:01 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 366, in which I review Maestro, the Leonard Bernstein biopic. Read this review.  Links to some of what I mentioned in the podcast: 1955 Edward R. Murrow Person to Person interview with Leonard Bernstein 1967 Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution (CBS special with Bernstein)

Review of The Way Home season 1

December 19, 2023 21:27 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 365, in which I review the first season of The Way Home on Hallmark TV. Read this review.  Links to some of what I mentioned in the podcast: review of Chris Cosmain's time-travel novel Novikov Windows Sister Hazel All For You Maria Tayler Pens Everything I Wanted

Review of the Who Killed JFK podcast, Episodes 1-5

December 12, 2023 18:26 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 364, in which I review the Who Killed JFK? podcast, episodes 1-5. Read this review (written review of episode 5, with links to written reviews episodes 1-4) Links to some of what I mentioned in the podcast: my review of Jack Dann's Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History ... my podcast interview with Jack Dann my alternate history story about The Beatles

Review of The Lazarus Project season 1

December 05, 2023 17:01 - 10 minutes - 10.3 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 363, in which I review The Lazarus Project, season 1, on TNT. Read this review.

Review of Bosch: Legacy 2.7-2.10

November 28, 2023 17:01 - 8 minutes - 8.4 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 362, in which I review Bosch: Legacy, episodes 2.7-2.10, on Amazon Prime Video. Read this review (with links to reviews of earlier episodes and seasons, including the very first season of Bosch). Podcast review of Bosch: Legacy 2.1-2.6

Foundation 2nd Season: Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and Paul Levinson discuss

November 21, 2023 17:01 - 1 hour - 68.7 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 361, in which Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and I talk about the second season of Foundation on Apple TV+.   Relevant links: our discussion of the first season of Foundation my reviews of the 2nd season of Foundation (with links to reviews of the 1st) Cora Buhlert's reviews of the 2nd season of Foundation Joel McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast

A Conversation about The Beatles 'Now and Then'

November 14, 2023 17:01 - 28 minutes - 22.4 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 360, in which Joel McKinnon and Cora Buhlert join me for a conversation about The Beatles' "Now and Then".  We had reconvened for a conversation about the second season of the Foundation series on Apple TV+ -- I had asked them to join me to talk about the first season back in 2021 -- but Joel, who's been in a band for decades, asked me what I thought of The Beatles new single, and this led to a conversation about the new single, The Beatles in Hambu...

Paul Levinson interviews Jack Dann about Alternate History

November 07, 2023 17:01 - 56 minutes - 40 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 359, in which I interview Jack Dann about his book The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History and other things science fictional.  Relevant links: Jack Dann's first publication, his 1974 Wandering Stars anthology  How Paul Levinson discovered Wandering Stars back in 1974 Jack Dann's The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History  Paul Levinson's review of The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History  Paul Levinson's alternate ...

Review of Bosch: Legacy 2.1-2.6

October 31, 2023 16:01 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 358, in which I review Bosch: Legacy, episodes 2.1-2.6, on Amazon Prime Video. Read this review (with links to reviews of earlier seasons, including the very first season of Bosch). Podcast review of Bosch: Legacy 2.7-2.10  

Roundtable Discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2

October 24, 2023 16:01 - 2 hours - 154 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 357, in which I join Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) and Marybeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo, and Roy Bjellquist in a 2-hour in-depth, fun discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. my written reviews  (w/spoilers) of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 2 Roundtable podcast discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 1 "It's Real Life" story and radio play

Paul Levinson interviews Chris Cosmain about his Time Travel Novel 'Novikov Windows'

October 17, 2023 16:14 - 55 minutes - 41.2 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 356, in which I interview Chris Cosmain about his novel Novikov Windows and time travel.  We also discuss how to succeed as a science fiction author. read my review of Novikov Windows buy the novel Chris Cosmain's web page read Paul Levinson's The Chronology Protection Case novelette watch The Chronology Protection Case movie video interview with director Jay Kensinger about The Chronology Protection Case movie "It's Real Life", Paul L...

Paul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about his upcoming Psychedelic Festival

September 29, 2023 20:06 - 37 minutes - 28.9 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 355, in which I interview Dan Abella about the upcoming Psychedelic Film and Music Festival he is organizing.  The Festival will take place October 20-22, 2023 in New York City, and there will both live and remote events and access. Among the topics we discuss: Hegel's spirit of an age ... Impressionism ... Matthew Modine ... Dennis McKenna ... Les Bicyclettes de Belsize ... Lewis Carroll ... John Lennon ... popular culture labels ... Philip K. Di...

Roundtable Discussion of Star Trek: Picard 3

June 10, 2023 16:48 - 1 hour - 148 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 354, in which I join Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York), Marybeth Ritkouski, and Michael Rizzo, in a 2-hour in-depth, fun discussion of Star Trek: Picard Season 3. Links to what is discussed in the podcast: my written reviews (w/spoilers) of Picard 3 more (tc, links to reviews) about Robots Through the Ages video of Paul Levinson reading from an early version of "Robinson Calculator" "It's Real Life" story and radio play...

Robots Through the Ages, AI, and Chat GPT

June 02, 2023 22:01 - 48 minutes - 60.7 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 353, in which Captain Phil and I discuss the new anthology Robots Through the Ages -- with stories by Ambrose Bierce, Philip K. Dick, and other titans, as well as relative newbies like me -- and AI and Chat GPT. Links to what is discussed in the podcast: more (tc, links to reviews) about Robots Through the Ages video of Paul Levinson reading from an early version of "Robinson Calculator" "The Civil Rights of Robots" "It's Real Life" story a...

Paul Levinson interviews Spencer Hannabuss

May 15, 2023 18:52 - 1 hour - 50.8 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 352, in which I interview Spencer Hannabuss, who sang "If I Traveled to the Past" at the end of the It's Real Life radio play adapted from my alternate history story about The Beatles, streaming on Killerwatt Radio.  We also discuss our views of The Beatles and their preeminent role in popular culture.  The interview concludes with a mini-concert of three songs by Spencer Hannabuss. Links: It's Real Life radioplay the original "It's Real Life"...

'It's Real Life' on Captain Phil's Planet

April 09, 2023 21:18 - 1 hour - 95.3 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 351, in which I visit Captain Phil's Planet on WUSB Radio (Stony Brook University) where he plays and we discuss the radio play "It's Real Life," adapted from my short story, narrated by Bobby Roberto, produced and streaming on Killerwatt.co Radio. listen to the radio play on Killerwatt.co, streaming free, where you'll find complete credits for the performances and production of the play, as well as an additional interview with me right after the ...

Paul Levinson interviews Anne Reburn

March 31, 2023 18:37 - 53 minutes - 44.8 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 350, in which I interview YouTube star cover artist Anne Reburn, who did the cover of John Lennon/The Beatles' "Real Love" in the It's Real Life radio play adapted from my short alternate history about The Beatles, streaming on Killerwatt Radio.  The interview concludes with a mini-concert of three songs by Anne Reburn. Links: It's Real Life radioplay the original "It's Real Life" short story video of this interview with Anne Reburn video ...

Review of The Last of Us 1.1-1.4

February 07, 2023 22:41 - 12 minutes - 12.2 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 349, in which I review The Last of Us, episodes 1.1-1.4, on HBO Max. Read this review.

Review of The Pale Blue Eye

January 15, 2023 20:50 - 8 minutes - 11.1 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 348, in which I review The Pale Blue Eye on Netflix. Read this review. And here's an alternate history story about The Beatles with a dash of Poe.  

Review of Kaleidoscope

January 10, 2023 00:53 - 9 minutes - 13 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 347, in which I review Kaleidoscope on Netflix. Read this review. See my in-depth video interview with Rufus Sewell about his role in The Man in The High Castle.      

Review of The Mosquito Coast 2.8: Hari Seldon in Mexico

December 23, 2022 21:36 - 10 minutes - 13.8 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 346, in which I explore the connection between The Mosquito Coast 2.8 (on Apple TV+) and Hari Seldon of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. Further reading: Written blog post of this exploration Paul Krugman's disappointment with Apple TV+ adaptation of Foundation. Importance of Foundation trilogy in Paul Krugman's Nobel laureate work in economics Further listening: Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and Paul Levinson discuss season 1 of Foundati...

Review of Harry & Meghan

December 19, 2022 18:21 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 345, in which I review Harry & Meghan on Netflix. Written blog post reviews of Harry & Meghan:  episodes 1-3, 4-6

Review of The Peripheral 1.6

November 20, 2022 23:03 - 9 minutes - 12.4 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 344, in which I review The Peripheral episode 1.6 on Amazon Prime Video. Written blog post of this review:  1.6: Now or Soonest Podcast reviews of The Peripheral 1.1-1.2  ... 1.3-1.5 Further reading:  alternate realities about The Beatles (It's Real Life) ... time travel (Slipping Time) Mentioned in this episode:  upcoming special issue of Amazing Stories    

Review of The Peripheral 1.3-1.5

November 13, 2022 22:46 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 343, in which I review The Peripheral episodes 1.3-1.5 on Amazon Prime Video. Written posts of this review:  1.3: John Snow ... 1.4-1.5 Lev's Tea and the AI Therapy Podcast review of The Peripheral 1.1-1.2 Further reading:  alternate realities about The Beatles (It's Real Life) ... time travel (Slipping Time) Mentioned in this episode:  upcoming special issue of Amazing Stories  

Review of The Peripheral 1.1-12

October 22, 2022 18:30 - 8 minutes - 12 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 342, in which I review the first two episodes of The Peripheral on Amazon Prime Video. Written post of this review on Vocal Further reading:  alternate realities about The Beatles (It's Real Life) ... time travel (Slipping Time) ... the grandfather paradox (Why Time Travel Is So Enjoyable)

Review of Blonde

October 04, 2022 18:40 - 9 minutes - 12.5 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 341, in which I review Blonde on Netflix. Written post of this review on Vocal. science fiction/fantasy novelette  

Roundtable Discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

October 01, 2022 18:01 - 1 hour - 159 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 340, in which I join Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) and Marybeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo, Roy Bjellquist, and Colleen Bement in a 2-hour in-depth, fun discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. More about the discussants: Marybeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo,  Roy Bjellquist, Colleen Bement Boarding the Enterprise (edited by David Gerrold and Robert J. Sawyer), anthology with essay "How Star Trek Liberated Television" by ...

Captain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about the Rise of Fascism and other Current Dangers

September 26, 2022 21:14 - 1 hour - 147 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 339, in which Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) interviews me about the rise of fascism in the United States and other current dangers.  

Review of Quantum Leap (2022) 1.1

September 20, 2022 17:49 - 8 minutes - 11.2 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 338, in which I review the new Quantum Leap (2022), first episode. more about quantum entanglement in "The Chronology Protection Case" (movie, Amazon Prime) (novelette).  

Review of House of Dragons 1.1-1.3

September 05, 2022 21:31 - 6 minutes - 9.2 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 337, in which I review episodes 1.1-1.3 of House of Dragons on HBO Max Blog post written review of these episodes. FREE: My short story, It's Real Life -- expanding it into a novel, and working on a radioplay of the story, is why I haven't put up a podcast review in a month.    

Review of The Orville season 3 finale

August 05, 2022 16:29 - 8 minutes - 11 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 336, in which I review episode 3.10 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review  of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season:  3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5... 3.6... 3.7-3.8... 3.9 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast. First chapter of It's Real Life novel, mentioned at the end of the podcast

Review of The Orville 3.9

July 30, 2022 18:11 - 7 minutes - 9.7 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 335, in which I review episode 3.9 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review  of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season:  3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5... 3.6... 3.7-3.8 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast.

Review of No Time to Die

July 29, 2022 19:25 - 9 minutes - 13 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 334, in which I review No Time to Die, the final Daniel Craig as James Bond movie Blog post written review  of this movie Podcast review of Casino Royale -- The Man Without the Golden Pun

Review of The Orville 3.7 - 3.8

July 24, 2022 18:11 - 10 minutes - 15.1 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 333, in which I review episodes 3.7 and 3.8 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written reviews  of these episodes: 3.7 and 3.8 Podcast reviews of The Orville third season:  3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5... 3.6 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast. First chapter of my just finished novel -- mentioned in the podcast -- alternate history about The Beatles: It's Real Life

Review of The Orville 3.6

July 13, 2022 15:40 - 6 minutes - 9.43 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 332, in which I review episode 3.6 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season:  3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast. First chapter of my novel in progress, alternate history about The Beatles: It's Real Life

Review of The Orville 3.5

July 05, 2022 17:27 - 5 minutes - 8.16 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 331, in which I review episode 3.5 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season:  3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast.

Review of Westworld 4.2

July 04, 2022 20:50 - 5 minutes - 7.85 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 330, in which I review episode 4.2 of Westworld on HBO. Blogpost written review of this episode Podcast reviews of this season:  4.1 ... They're coming out into the open, for the first time in...   Read More

Review of The Man Who Fell to Earth season 1 finale

July 04, 2022 19:04 - 5 minutes - 8.11 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 329, in which I review the season 1 finale of The Man Who Fell to Earth  on Showtime. Written blog post review of this episode of The Man Who Fell to Earth podcast reviews of The Man Who Fell to Earth  1.1 ... 1.2... 1.3... 1.5-1.6... 1.7... 1.8... 1.9

Review of For All Mankind 3.3-3.4

July 02, 2022 02:06 - 7 minutes - 9.72 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 328, in which I review For All Mankind 3.3-3.4 on Apple TV+. Blog post review of these episodes:  3.3 - 3.4 Podcast reviews of prior episodes and seasons: 3.1  3.2 ... Season 2 ... Season 1 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Orville, Isaac Asimov, much more on his Seldon Crisis podcast *** Note added 27 October 2023:  Check out my review of Jack Dann's new book, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alt...

Review of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 1.9

July 01, 2022 03:07 - 8 minutes - 11.6 MB

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 327, in which I review the ninth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ written blog post review of this episode Podcast reviews of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 1.1-2 ... 1.3... 1.4... 1.5... 1.6... 1.7... 1.8 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Orville, Isaac Asimov, much more on his Seldon Crisis podcast

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